------------------------------------------------------------------- F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. (Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, Incorporated) a non-profit computer bulletin board and electronic library 601 16th St. #C-217 Golden, Colorado 80401 USA BBS 303 530-1942 FAX 303 530-2950 Office 303 473-0111 This document is part of an electronic lending library and preservational electronic archive. F.A.C.T.Net does not sell documents, it only lends them according to the terms of your library cardholder agreement with F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------- [Editor's note: A serious effort was made to produce an accurate text of Joyce Stephenson's affidavit here, but the copy available to the editor seems to have defects in the middle of it. If strict accuracy is required, it will be necessary to consult a different copy. Any defects are a result of faulty transmission, not the fault of Joyce Stephenson.] ** AFFIDAVIT ** JOYCE STEPHENSON 12021 Valleyheart Drive #202 Studio City, California 91604 August 30, 1989 Dear Margery, Here is a brief statement of some of my personal experiences with Scientology. I was involved with Scientology for close to 20 years part of this time was spent as a staff member. I can honestly say that being a staff member was the worst experience of my life - long hours, low pay, severe punishment for minor infractions such as being thrown into the lake at St. Hill, England, for auditing errors. I finally resigned in 1983 after finding out about Ron Hubbard mainly from former members who were close to him and now were telling the real story. My experiences, in comparison, were nothing compared to some of the horror stories I heard. The most recent incident (which I think was the most traumatic) occurred in 1984/5. A friend of mine (who was also the mother-in-law of David Miscavage who is now one of the top people in the organization) called me in great distress. I believe her words were "They are trying to kill me - Can you come right away - I feel like I am dying." When I arrived she was in bed and could scarcely move her eyes because of the pain in her head. I tried unsuccessfully to get her to a doctor - when I mentioned the word [Here some of the text is missing.] The secret part of Scientology - the so-called upper levels - tell people that their whole body is infested with countless numbers of spirits that cause every ache and pain. Every mental picture that you have is really one of these other entities' pictures - not yours. They tell you that you are clear (from Dianetics) and you no longer have mental pictures. She totally believed that her body would get well if the BTs would go away. The pain was actually caused by an aneurysm (abnormal dilation of an artery in her head) and it was not until she collapsed 5-6 months later that this condition was discovered. She had surgery - which was "fairly successful", I suppose - she had some memory problems. Because of her inability to work, her lessened mental awareness, and because her two daughters still in Scientology had virtually abandoned her, she became very depressed. I was not much help, I myself have suffered high anxiety, nightmares and phobias as a result of being in Scientology. The bad far outweighed the good, in my opinion. I know of at least 500 ex-members who have a law suit (class action) against Scientology in Los Angeles. Margery, you are not a lone disaffected member. There are thousands. Most of them are probably afraid - thank God for people like you. You have my support absolutely. Perhaps your courage will inspire others to speak out and let the public know what a destructive organization Scientology really is. I am telling everyone I know what your predicament is so hopefully they will be courageous enough to write of their experiences, too. ================================================================= If this is a copyrighted work, you are acknowledging by receipt of this document from FACTNet that on the basis of reasonable investigation, you have not been to obtain a copy elsewhere at a fair price, and that you are and will abide by the following copyright warning. WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS: The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photo copies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified by law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. FACTNet reserves the right to refuse to accept an order for copying or other duplication, or delivery of copied or duplicated material if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- DOS FILENAME OF TEXT FILE: JOYCE.TXT DOS FILENAME OF IMAGE FILES: JOYCE.TIF ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: SECURITY CODE: DISTRIBUTION CODE: NAME FOR BBS: Joyce Stephenson's Affidavit of Her Time in Sci. SORT TO: CONTRIBUTOR: LOC. OF ORIG: FACT NOTES: A concise statement by Joyce Stephenson, dated August 1989, telling of her involvement in Sci and a meeting with Mr. Miscavage's mother-in-law who was very ill. For additional verification see image files contained in the file with same name and .ZIP extension. UPDATED ON: 4/12/94 UPDATED BY: FrJMc =================================================================